Long-standing industry partners establish joint venture PlastiKCs

Schwaig, April 23, 2020 – As of 1 April 2020, PlastiKCs is now actively selling Sumitomo (SHI) Demag injection moulding machines, as well as robotic systems and peripheral equipment for plastics processing companies in Belgium and Luxembourg. Proven injection moulding expert Kurt Callewaert founded the company together with Thiele & Kor Plastics Machinery B.V., Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s long-standing representative.

The name PlastiKCs is derived from founder Kurt Callewaert’s initials and his core competence: plastics. Having worked for many years as a sales manager and managing director in the injection moulding machine industry, Callewaert longed to establish his own venture. “Having my own company has always been my big dream. But there was one condition: I wanted to sell high-end, high quality and innovative products,” says Callewaert.

The entrepreneur found his ideal partner in Thiele & Kor Plastics Machinery B.V., based in Nieuwegein. Having managed service and sales for the Sumitomo (SHI) Demag product range since 2012, Callewaert will utilise the firm’s expertise to strengthen PlastiKCs market presence in Belgium and Luxembourg.

“Kurt Callewaert and I personally share a very similar understanding of market development with a focus on customer satisfaction,” says Gerd Liebig, CEO of Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH. “With our existing, very successful representation Thiele & Kor Plastics Machinery and the addition of Kurt Callewaert, we will be able to provide even better advice to customers in Belgium and Luxembourg by establishing and intensifying partnerships regionally and in targeted sectors. We are delighted to have strengthened the Belgium and Luxembourg team in this way,” adds Mr. Liebig.

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH

Sumitomo (SHI) Demag has shaped the development of the plastics industry from its very beginning. As a specialist for injection moulding machines for plastics processing, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag and its Japanese parent company are leading the industry.

The global development and production network of Sumitomo Heavy Industries and Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is comprised of four facilities in Japan, Germany and China with more than 3,000 employees. The product portfolio includes all-electric, hydraulic and hybrid injection moulding machines with clamping forces of between 180 and 15.000 kN. With more than 145,000 installed machines, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is present in important global markets and ranks among the largest manufacturers of injection moulding machines in the world.

At Sumitomo’s headquarters in Chiba, Japan, the company manufactures machines with clamping forces in the small to medium range. Nearly 95 % of all delivered machines are equipped with an all-electric drive concept. Sumitomo (SHI) Demag’s German facilities in Schwaig and Wiehe produce the Systec Servo range with hybrid drive as well as the El-Exis SP and Systec SP range of high-speed, high-performance machines. The all-electric IntElect range for international customers is also being produced in Germany.

As early as 1998, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag set up its first production site in Ningbo/China. In 2015, the Chinese subsidiary Demag Plastics Machinery (Ningbo) Co., Ltd. installed a new facility with a 13,000 m² floor space. It is earmarked for the production of the Systec C range with clamping forces of between 500 and 10,000 kN for the Asian market.

In addition to injection moulding machines, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag offers customised and standardised systems for the part handling automation, technical and process solutions for special applications, tailored services and service concepts as well as a range of financial options to support investment in injection moulding machines.

With its comprehensive sales and service network of subsidiaries and agencies, Sumitomo (SHI) Demag is present in all major markets.

Press release issued for Sumitomo (SHI) Demag Plastics Machinery GmbH by: Lucy Benbow & Sarah Willington